The Evil Within 2 (A.K.A Psycho Break 2 in Japan) is a survival horror game for PS4, XBONE and PC, which was developed by Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is a sequel to 2014's game The Evil Within was originally released for PS4, PS3, XBONE, X360, and PC.
3 years ago, I have reviewed the first The Evil Within, which I've regarded the game as being really good horror game for modern day gaming, so if you want to check out my review on The Evil Within, the link is down below:
The Evil Within PS4 Review: https://zeeshanmirzasblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-evil-within-ps4-review.html
Okay moving on this game now. My thoughts and final opinion on this game has turned out to be a amazing horror experience. Many fans of the survivor horror genres have argued that the sequel are far more better than the originals due to improved character's development and storylines, soild atmospheres and much larger gameplay design that made the game quite entertaining, so the answer is they are absolutely right and I actually prefer this sequel over the original. The Evil Within 2 has given me a positive impressions that the game has to offer, so I was amazed that the creator behind Resident Evil series did such amazing job of how his development team can keep up with the project that turned into a finest horror game of this generation.
So without go further do, lets start the review.
Presentation
This game takes place after the events of the original game. The story focuses on main protagonist named Sebastian Castellanos who had left his police department after his terrifying experience of Beacon Mental Hospital. Due to loss of his family has caused his regular lifestyle to becoming alcoholic and pissed off until he was approached by his former partner Juli Kidman, who currently worked with MOBIUS, reveals to him that his daughter Lily is still alive which he never believed her until he was been taken to secret MOBIUS facility and accepted Kidman's help that lead him into the STEM system entering at nightmarish locations that filled with horrid creatures, so his mission is to search and rescue his lost daughter.
So far what I've noticed about the story perspective is somewhat different from the first game. I gotta be honest with the story of the game are actually bit better than what I've expected because the storyline has interesting dialogue that keeps the game's story going forward as long as you can able to get used too by watching more important cutscenes that keeps getting far better and better. I was surprised that they managed to improve the character's development that keeps them more interesting. Sebastian Castellanos is quite aggressive than was before which he looked like a pissed off version of Sad Keanu and then it has Juli Kidman haven't changed a lot since the first game, but they still managed to make her personality quite decent to keep it more ongoing throughout the story. Most of the villains in the game are surprisingly better than the first ones. It has crazy middle-aged emo named Stefano Valentini and demonic priest named Father Theodore are the main highlights of the whole game, while I don't recall Sebastian's wife Myra a villain which she was already being cursed by the Theodore's evil power which led her into a monster, but she still aims to protect Lily by keeping Sebastian away from her, while he sworn to save his daughter by getting her out of nightmarish places that don't belong here.
The presentation of the game are just gory as the first game. It mixes between survival and psychological aspects of the game that filled with disturbing settings of the environments and hallucination effects that makes the game feels more delusional and terrifying to look. It's feels like I'm inside of dark places that I cannot able to escape from the nightmare places that filled with dead corpses, blood-shattered floor and sadistic medieval themes which adds the genuine game's atmosphere.
Overall, they have improved the story and characters, and of course it still has gruesome presentation.
Gameplay
You take control of Sebastian Castellanos to complete each chapters to progress throughout the story.
This game features a larger levels of the game which you can able to explore any of the areas, so you can able to search for collectable items, objectives including side-missions, and resources such as hints which can be appeared on the map options.
I believed the controls scheme is somewhat newly updated, so your sprint and sneak button are now placed onto thumbsticks button which makes it easier to control, but you can always set to classic controls from the option menu depending on your suitable playstyle.
Your character can able to sprint by pressing run button to evade from the enemy nearby and you can do stealth by pressing the sneak button to avoid getting caught by enemy nearby which you will able to notice the eye symbols on top of the screen describing how the enemy reacted to noise of footsteps and noisy environment, but you can also distract them by throwing bottles in random places. Using the flashlight will help able to help you through pitch black area and you have communicator device which allows you to spot the hidden signals nearby for its new location and revealing voice documentary.
The combat mechanics has selection of weapons and performing melee attacks. The handgun pistols are pretty basic for its balanced range, the shotgun can give a heavy kills in close range, the assault rifle and sniper rifle are acceptable for its long range and flamethrower allows you to burst fire at the enemies causing to burn them alive. The crossbow weapons has the variety of bolts such as explosion, shock, smoke, harpoon, and freeze which are very handy for its in-game battle. You can perform the melee for its close combat, while its also worked for the stealth attack. Once you have collected the materials such as gunpowder, metal, herbs, nails and others you can able to craft your bullets and bolts for your certain weapons, while you need to craft herbs to create medical items which restores your health bar. After collecting the weapons parts and green gels, you can use them through the Sebastian's office in which you can able to upgrade your weapons through workbench allowing to improve your fire rate, reloading time, firepower, and accuracy throughout your weapon selection and the green gel can upgrade your character's abilities through customisation seating which allows you to select these 5 divided trees to improve your health, stealth, combat, recovery and athleticism that benefits your character's abilities.
So far, the combat mechanics is quite playable at the times which I didn't have any problem in the game. The weapons are quite useful for its survival with acceptable aiming controls, great shooting collisions and fine melee hit detection that made the combat gameplay plays good. The character's movement are also great for its both stealth and lethal purposes especially with having an options to change controls types for its preferred gameplay style. Upgrading the weapons and abilities can be also rewarding which helps the player to make them stronger and powerful. I really enjoyed exploring around the levels which adds the new discovery in the levels, the side-missions are also pretty good, but it's kinda bummer that it only has 3 side-missions, so I wish they could have added more side-missions in the game would have been nice. The whole action in the game are very entertaining when fighting with bunch of monsters including boss battles that keeps you satisfied with this game. There are options to change perspective from Third-Person to First-Person view, but I finding the FPS view is bit clunky compared with Resident Evil 7, so I kinda prefer playing The Evil Within 2 with normal third-person view.
I'm very glad that the developer teams did keep up with this project that made the game really fun to play.
Overall, it has larger levels, great combat gameplay and entertaining battles.
Graphics
The game was running on STEM engine which uses a heavily modified version of Id tech 5. It allows the graphics engine to render a better texture mapping, environments and the use of animations. So far, the character's animation is looked quite realistic for the newer title, as you can see their facial features and body movement is just amazing in the whole game. The level environments are quite detailed in the game as you can see the whole design of houses, buildings and others has great use of textures mapping to make it look more clearer. I also loved the gory special effects that has blood splatted everywhere on the floor and it also fills with the body organs of dead corpses that are really terrifying indeed and it has the variety of illusion effects for its psychological purposes to make you feel even more mindf**ked in the game. It's very well done for its quality graphics that looked even better when running on 4KTV which adds the full crispy look of the game itself.
Overall, it has realistic character's animation, clearer environments, and terrifying special effects.
Music and Sounds
The music is quite similar to the first game as it did such a good job for its composing the original soundtrack. It adds the mood of the game which features a sinister music part for its darker sequences and some are a bit calmer music in different cinematic part. I'm surprised that the cover version of Duran Duran's songs Ordinary World was featured at the end credits is sounds pretty good to listen. I say I really liked the dark atmospheric of sound effects which fits really well on the darker settings of the game as you can able to hear the hellish background voices of monsters and some of them are disturbing shock screams which adds the horror creepiness in the game. I also liked the part where I get chased by the crazy ghost bitch that really scares the shit of me with my PS4 controller, so that means you can able to hear her voice through the speaker which is kinda impressive for the horror titles. I believe the voice cast has improved over the first originals, which adds the character's personality and it uses the better dialogue to keep the story more interesting which gets the whole job done right.
Overall, it has great music, hellish sound effects and improved voice over.
Special Features
The game featured with Last Chance DLC pack which features burst handgun and other items. It also has new game plus, 2 mini game mode such as score attack and gallery shootout, and FPS mode through updatable patches. You can also earn a collectables in single-player campaign such as figurine, sildeshow photos and others.
Overall, it has DLC pack, collectables, mini-game, and new game plus.
Advantages
Gruesome presentation
Improved story and characters
Great combat gameplay
Large levels to explore
Realistic graphics
Impressive music and sounds
Decent special features
Disadvantages
Clunky FPS Mode
Short side-missions
Final Verdict
Presentation 7.5/10 - Improved story and characters, and gruesome presentation.
Gameplay 8.5/10 - larger levels, great combat gameplay and entertaining battles.
Graphics 8.5/10 - Realistic character's animation, clearer environments, and terrifying special effects.
Music and sounds 8.5/10 - Great music, hellish sound effects and improved voice over.
Special Features 8/10 - DLC pack, collectables, mini-game, and new game plus.
Overall 8.5/10 - The fans of the genres will able to enjoy their horror experience of this excellent sequel to the first original. I was satisfied with the dialogue plot and character's development which makes a magnificent improvement that keeps the story ongoing. Due to gruesome presentation which features psychological themes and delusional scenes that made the game quite bloody fun to watch and I was impressed with the use of combat gameplay and larger levels which fills with entertaining boss battles and exploration for newer discovery. So far, its genuinely a better sequel of the series and I hope the creator will able to make another The Evil Within game in the future. If you're into with the horror genres for gaming then go buy this game.
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